9XM's animated characters to star in animation feature, games

9XM's animated dudes Bheegi Billi, Chhote-Bade, Beetle Nuts and others are soon going to grace the silver screen in an animation feature. The 90-minute 3D animated feature film will be complete 'Bollywood Masala' with song sequences and dance numbers incorporated in it.

Talking to Bollywood Hungama, Vikas Varma, head of music channel 9XM said, "Our plan to launch an animation feature is a natural progression of our characters that have already become popular amongst the audiences. We still haven't finalized on the title of the feature but tentatively we are keeping it Bakwaas Band Kar."

Currently in the scripting stage, the feature is expected to release in early 2010. On being asked about the animation studio going to work on the feature, he said, "We are planning to consider the same studio (Prime Focus) which has worked on animated shorts of our character because they understand our property and have the capability for right delivery."

In a couple of months, the channel also plans to add another character to its bunch of odd ball VJs - Badshah Ali Khan (a cross between Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Shah Rukh Khan) will make his appearance along with Chhote-Bade, Bheegi Billi and The Beetles.

With a refusal to comment on the budget of the movie, Varma concluded, "All our characters are the next Bollywood celebrities. All of them are inspired from Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan. We are already on mobile platform and are soon going to take these characters on the gaming, licensing and merchandising platforms in a big way."